The continuation of last month’s post, Light in the Darkness (Part 1). 

In the first part, we looked at many Old Testament references to light and how they pointed to Jesus, the Light of the World. In part 2, we’ll focus on how blindness (in the Bible) is a type of darkness, how Jesus healed many blind people, and we’ll look at what the New Testament says about light.

Open the Eyes of the Blind

At the very start of His ministry, Jesus read from the Scriptures in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Luke 4:16-21). The passage that Jesus chose to read was from the book of Isaiah and was a prophecy of the coming Messiah. But Jesus added a line of His own (it’s okay, He can do that since He is God after all). Let’s compare.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Isaiah 61:1-2a

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19

Jesus proclaimed that the Messiah would also recover the sight of the blind. After reading this to all the people gathered in the synagogue, Jesus went on to say, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Jesus declared that He was the Messiah they had been waiting for and that He would fulfill all these things including giving sight to those who were blind.

This wasn’t an entirely new concept. Several passages in the Old Testament state that the Lord Himself would open the eyes of the blind. 

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. Psalm 146:8a

Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Isaiah 35:4-5

I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes. Isaiah 42:6-7a

Is there any other recorded event in the Old Testament where a prophet or anyone else healed a person of blindness?

Nope.

This did not happen until Jesus. During His ministry on earth, one of the miracles that Jesus performed numerous times was healing the blind and giving them sight (Matt. 9:27-30, 12:22, 15:30-31, 21:14, Mark 8:22-25, 10:46-52, Luke 7:21, 18:35-43). 

The most detailed account of Jesus healing a blind man is in John 9. 

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” John 9:1-3

When questioned by the Pharisees, the previously blind man had this to say about Jesus:

“Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” John 9:32-33

Jesus was fulfilling prophecy about the Messiah and revealing the works of God by physically healing the blind. But often in prophecy, there are multiple layers of fulfillment. Not only would the Messiah heal physical blindness but more importantly, He would heal spiritual blindness. 

Spiritual Blindness

What does it mean to be spiritually blind?

But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  2 Corinthians 3:14-16

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:9-11

From these passages, we learn that spiritual blindness occurs when the mind has been blinded to the truth of the gospel, that “the god of this age” a.k.a. Satan blinds people from the light of Jesus, and that blindness is equivalent to darkness.

Seeing They Do Not See

Spiritual blindness was evident during Jesus’ ministry on earth. The people of Israel could physically see Him with their eyes, yet many of their minds were spiritually blinded so they were unable to see that Jesus was their Messiah.

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. “ Matthew 13:10-11, 13

Jesus spoke in parables so only those who were no longer spiritually blind would be able to see the truth. And most of Israel was blind to the truth of their Messiah.

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Romans 11:25

God allowed for Israel to be spiritually blind in order for the Gentiles to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. This fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah:

Indeed He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6

Come Into the Light

The truth is that all people, Jews and Gentiles, are in spiritual darkness until they come into the light. Remember, Jesus is the Light of the world.

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. John 12:46

The only way to leave the darkness is to come into the Light, Jesus, the Messiah. The amazing thing is that once believers come to faith in Jesus, His light actually lives in us. This is Jesus healing the spiritual blindness in believers.

“While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke. John 12:36a

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:5

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10

Is This Light the Right Light?

There is one thing that believers need to be on watch for: false light. 

And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

Someone who is spiritually blind would be unable to discern between a false light and the true Light. We need to question whether the light we see is the right light. Trust in Jesus alone!

End of the Darkness

Let us not be discouraged by the darkness in the world around us. We belong to the Light and His light lives in us. And for believers, one day, the darkness will come to an end.

The darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 1 John 2:8b

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:5

Related resources

Free resources:

Podcast episode 48 - Biblical Prophecy, End Times + False Light with Trisha Spurgeon

Eyes on the Right podcast - The False Light Movement

Exclusive resource in The Rooted Truth Collective:

Equipping the Saints - How to Share the Gospel